Vehicle-frame.



No. 676,|I5. Patented lune Il, |901.

y F. C. BILLINGS..

VEHICLE FRAME.

(Application led June 20, 1900.) (Rd Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

No., 676,115. :Patented June n, |901. F. c. BILLINGS.

'vl-:mcLE FRAME.

(Application ld June 20, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

UNIrED` STATES vPATENT OFFICE.

FREDERIC C. BILLINGS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICANBICYCLE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

VEHICLE-FRAM E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 676,1 15, dated June 1 1, 1901.

` Application filed June 20, 1900. Serial No. 20,934. (No model.)`

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERIC C. BILLINGs, a citizen of the United States, residing in Hartford, inthe county of I-Iartford and State of Connecticut, have invented 'certain new and usefulA Improvements in Vehicle-Frames, oi' which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to runnin g-gear frames for vehicles, and is shown applied to the frame of a motor-vehicle, although it is not limited thereto.

These frames are generally composed ot' tubular side-bars or reach-rods and tubular driving and steering axles, to which the sidebars are rigidly connected, and asl such a frame is more or less flexible or elastic and is rigidly connected in al1 ofitsparts breakage, particularlyV at the joints, and permanent flexure'at other points are liable tooccur for the reason that the frame is notso constructed that it will give or yield to compensate for and accommodate itself to the various movements of the wheels while running over an uneven surface. e

Primarily the object of my Vinventionis the provision of a connectionbetween thesections of the side-bars or reaches of a vehicleframe, (which connection is in the nat-ure of a yielding j oint,) whereby the reaches will be automatically adjustable tothe movements of the vehicle and will permit torsional action of theframewithoutliabilityofinjuriousstrains, which often cause breakage of the parts or throw them permanently out of proper position.

A further object of the invention `is the provision of a sectional reach and of means in the nature of a yielding joint in connection with said reach for permitting a torsional action of the frame without damaging the reach or its connections with the driving and steering axles.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a bolt of peculiar construction for connecting the sections of each reach, said bolt being adapted to receive an eye connected to a brace-rod leading to the forward axle, on which the steering-wheels are mounted.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is front axle, with my invention in place theree in. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an eyepiece constituting a part of my invention; and Figs. 5 and 6 are side elevations, respectively, of the hollow screw and bolt (shown' assembled within the sectional reach in Fig. 3) detached.

Like numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views. l

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates in a general way the running-gear `frame of a motor-vehicle, said frame being,

except as otherwise specified, of conventional construction and composed of longitudinal side bars or reaches, designated generally by 6 6', a front cross-bar 7, constituting the steering-wheel axle or front transverse member, a curved truss 8, connecting the rear ends of the side bars and constituting the rear transverse member, a sectional rear axle 9, Fig. 2, a nat oblong frame 10, uniting the sections of the axle and receiving the usual compensating gearing,.(not shown,) rear braces 12 12', and front 'braces 13 13', connected to the reaches and tothe lower bearings 14 14' of the steering-axle, in which bearings pivots (shown as bolts 15 15') on which the steeringwheelsl 16Aare swiveled are mounted. A common form of steering-linkage is also illustrated, and this consists of rods17 17', connected by links 18 18' with arms or levers proj ecting from the hubs of said steering-wheels.

Each reach or side bar 6- 6is formed of two separate sections 62 63, the sections 62 being secured at their rear ends in sleeves 19 19', projecting from the rear axle, and the sections 63 being attached to similar sleeves 2O 20', projecting from the steering axle 7. As above stated, if these reaches or side-bars `were rigid throughout their lengths any torsional or twisting action of the frame, which is liable to occur when the vehicle is running IOO over uneven ground, Willcause'said frame to be placed under great tension, with the liabile ity of the rupture or distortion of certainof the parts thereof, and my invention is de- .sgnedto obviate this dfculty by permitnnovennents of tine vehicle wvhile the Wheels LhBIGOf are passing Over Vuneven SUIRICBS.

With this end in view I connect the sections of the reaches in such a manner that when.

subjected to torsional action each will have a slight movement around a device connecting saidy sections, and while a particular connecting device is shown for constituting a yielding joint it is distinctly to be understood that my invention is not limited thereto, for it. includes Within its purview any kind of a device carried by the sections of the'reach and. adapted for accomplishing the purpose stated. f

' In the form of my invention illustrated the tubular sections 62 63 of each side-bar or reach" are connected by aA bolt 21, having a smoothlreduccd portion 21, with a tenon 212 at one end, an enlarged circular intermediate portion or collar 213, a hexagonal or other form .of angular head 214 for receiving a wrench, and a reduced portion 213, threaded Mounted for free rotative movement upon the'smooth portion 213 of the bolt and shown secured thereon by a washer 22, held in place by upsetting the tenon 213, or it may be secured in any other desired way, is an exterinally-fthreaded sleeve 23, having an angular h'ead; 23 for receiving a wrench, the threaded portionof said sleeve being adapted to be insertedjin an internally-threaded portion 24 of the reach-section 63, and threaded upon the section 2l,l of the bolt is a sleeve 26, havinga smooth' periphery, said sleeve being adapted to be inserted and secured by brazing or otherwise in the smooth bore of the reach-section 63. (See Fig. 3.)

Fitted over the cylindrical portion 213 of the bolt and loosely held in place thereon by the heads or Iianges 214 23 is an eyepiece 27,

having a deflected shank 27 with a reduced stem 273, adapted to be inserted and secured by brazing or otherwise inthe end of the tubular lbrace 13, connecting the reach with the front axle.

. In assembling the parts just described the sections of the reaches and the braces are 'rstionnected to their respective axles and thebolt 21 is screwed in the thimble 26. Then the eye 27 of brace 13 is put in place on the bearing 213, (the other end of the brace beingdetached from bolt 15'.) Now the two parts of the reaches are brought together and the thimble 23 is screwed into the end of secti'on 62 vo'f 'the' reach, leaving the reach'to swivel on part 21 and the brace to turn on its collar. The sleeve 26, it will be understood,` is brazed or otherwise secured to the part 63 of the reach.

The devices connecting the sectional reach 6' With'the steering-axle are the same as those just described, and Where shown in Fig. 1 are indicated by the same numerals. In this way a. connection is provided which vwl-r11V enable the frame to rock an g gering che reach. For instance, 1f che forw twist. Without elxdanyyggd part: of the frame is given a torsional movement the section 63 of the reach, being brazed or otherwise secured to the sleeve 26, Will cause the bolt to turn in the sleeve 23, and if the rear part of the vehicle should be given this motion the part 62 of the reach will cause said sleeve to slightly rotate over the smooth reduced portion 21 of the bolt. While :isit connedto the particular kind of frame shown, and other kinds of yielding joints may be substituted for those shown without departure therefrom.

IOC

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a frame for vehicles, the combination with the transverse members of reach-sections secured to the rear member, reach-sections secured to the front member, devices `connecting the corresponding reach-sections, eyepieces loosely mounted on said devices,

and braces connecting said eyepieces with the front member.

2. In a frame for a vehicle, the combination with the front and rear transverse members of tubular reach-sections projecting from the 'rear member, tubular reach-sections projecting from the front member, bolts uniting said sections, and devices carried by said bolts for uniting the sections, and Apermitting movement under strain.

3. In. a frame for a vehicle, the combination with the front and rear members of tubular reach-sections projecting therefrom, boltsinserted in said sections, each of said bolts having a collar, devices carried by the bolts for 4arid rear transverse members, oneof said sections having an internal screw-thread, of a bolt, an externally threaded sleeve in en- IIO gagement with said internal screw-thread and loosely mounted on said bolt, and an internally-threaded sleeve having a smooth exterior surface secured to a threaded portion of the bolt, and fitted within the other reach-section.

5. In a frame for a vehicle a reach composed of tubular sections, one of which is threaded, a bolt carrying a, threaded sleeve in engagement with the threaded reach-section, and a second sleeve secured to the bolt and coperating with the other reach-section.

6. In a frame for a Vehicle, a reach formed of two tubular sections,one of which is threaded, a bolt having a smooth portion at one end, and an externally-threaded portion at the other end, an externally threaded sleeve loosely mounted on the smooth portion of the bolt and in engagement with the threaded portion of the reach-section, said sleeve having an angular head, and an internallythreaded sleeve having a smooth periphery in engagement with the threaded portion of the bolt, said sleeve being fitted within the other reach-section.

7 A yielding joint for a sectional reach comprising a bolt inserted within the sections of said reach and carrying a sleeve at each end, one of said sleeves being attached to one reach-section, and the other sleeve being secured Within the complementary reach-section.

8. A yielding joint for a sectional reach comprising a bolt inserted within the sections of said reach, and carrying a sleeve at each end, one of said sleeves being attached to a reach-section by a threaded connection, and the other sleeve being threaded tothe bolt and secured within the other reach-section.

9. In avehicle-frame, the combination with the reach composed of two tubular sections, of a bolt fitted within said sections and secured to one of them, an eyepiece loosely surrounding the bolt, and a tubular brace connected to said eyepiece.

10. In a vehicle-frame, the combination with the tubular sectional reach, of a bolt having a collar intermediate its length, said collar being located between the reach-sections, an eyepiece sleeved upon the collar of the bolt and having a defiected'shank, means for securing the bolt to one of the reach-sections, and a brace for connecting said eyepiece to one of the transverse members of the frame;

l1. In a vehicle frame, the combination with the front and rear transverse members, of tubular sectional reach-sections projecting therefrom, bolts connecting said reach-sections in such a manner that a yielding joint :is formed between the sections of each reach, an eyepiece loosely mounted on each bolt intermediate the reach-sections, and braces connecting said eyepieces with one of the transverse members. y

FREDERIC C. BILLINGS.- Witnesses:

F. C. BLAND, H. B. BELFIELD. 

